Floating Torii Gate in Miyajima, Japan

We've seen pictures of the floating torii gate in Miyajima but we've never seen it for ourselves until NOW. We just got back from a 10-day Cunard cruise that visited Hiroshima, Japan. On a shore excursion to Hiroshima and Miyajima, we finally made our way to the infamous torri gate known as the Itsukushima Shrine Otorii Gate that seem to be floating on the ocean. The torii gate only looks like it is floating when the tide is in but when the tide is out, people can walk right up to the pillars and pass through the gate.

The tide was in when we visited Miyajima so the torii gate was floating. Our tour guide told us that cinnabar was used to color it red. Cinnabar has an ingredient that will help preserve the wood from rotting which is convenient. We don't want the torii gate to succumb to sea water.

This was one torii gate we did not pass. I heard that people who come by boat would pass through the torii gate, bowing before paddling through the gate. There were some kayakers paddling around it that looked fun.

We found the island really quaint that we want to return and stay for a few days. I think that's a great idea! Until then Miyajima...



We highly recommend you visit Miyajima Island to spend a magical day there. If you do, please drop us a comment. We would love to hear about your adventure there. 

Location: 1-1 Miyajimachō, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0588, Japan

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Coldest Frap at the Tallest Starbucks in Busan, South Korea

Image
If you're headed to Busan, South Korea, don't miss one of the world's most stunning Starbucks location - where modern architecture meets breathtaking ocean views.Whether you're a caffeine-loving traveler chasing that perfect expresso or a digital nomad scouting instagrammable cafes in Busan, this Starbucks delivers more than just coffee - it's an experience at the tallest Starbucks in the world. When we were in Busan, South Korea, we visited the highest or tallest Starbucks in the world. It was on the 99th floor of the Busan X The Sky Building near Haeundae Beach. To get there, we had to pay to get on the observation floor then walk up a set of stairs to Starbucks.  The elevator was fast. Inside, they showed a video on the walls and on the ceiling of a hot air balloon. I think that was a distraction and it worked. In seconds, our ears plugged and we were up on top. The elevator opened and we were on the observation floor of the Busan X. Nothing out of the ordinary w...
Read more

Best Fish and Chips in a Small Town, Picton, New Zealand

Image
Picton was one of the smallest port we had ever visited but it was more than quaint. When we looked outside our port window, we saw piles and piles of logs. These logs were stacked up high and there were plenty of them.  A shuttle was provided to take us into town. The explanation of the logs were that these logs were going to be sent to China to be used to create toothpicks, chopsticks and matches. That was surprising to hear.  After being dropped off, we walked along the shoreline until we found this bridge that spanned the marina. This was the Coathanger bridge. Originally built in 1907 as the Victoria Domain bridge, it was replaced in 1950 as the Coathanger bridge.  The Picton marina was peaceful and really fun to walk through. It was hard to imagine the population was only 7,990 and with us visiting, the population was close to 10,000 for the day. We kept walking along the shoreline, occasionally glancing into the water because the water was so clear. On one glance, ...
Read more

Palace of the Grand Master in Rhodes, Greece

Image
When we left the ship to explore Rhodes, we walked along a road that had the ocean on the right and the city wall on the left.  It was a quiet day like if it was a holiday or something. We crossed the road and walked up to a cathedral that was in ruins. There were a lot of feral cats there and nothing else. We continued to explore the area and found a large square and a long cobblestone road that led to a large medieval castle. The Palace of the Grand Master is where the administrative center of the Order of the Knights of Saint John were. It was built in the 7th century as a Byzantine citadel but in 1856, lightning strucked a gunpowder magazine and exploded. It killed many people and caused the upper floors of the palace to collapse. The lower floors survived but nothing on the upper floors did. It wasn't until 1937 and 1940, the upper floors were rebuilt without knowledge of historical significance or design.  History buffs think the Colloso of Rhodes used to stand on top of...
Read more